1. What is the most appropriate initial treatment for a patient with symptomatic sinus
bradycardia?
A. Synchronized cardioversion
B. Atropine
C. Amiodarone
D. Defibrillation
Answer: B) Atropine
Rationale: Sinus bradycardia can be treated with atropine, which increases heart rate by
inhibiting the vagus nerve's effects on the heart. If symptoms persist, further interventions like
pacing may be required.
2. Which of the following treatments is recommended for patients with symptomatic paroxysmal
supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)?
A. Defibrillation
B. Carotid sinus massage
C. Atropine
D. Amiodarone
Answer: B) Carotid sinus massage
Rationale: Carotid sinus massage can help slow the heart rate in patients with PSVT by
stimulating the vagus nerve, which increases parasympathetic activity and slows conduction
through the AV node.
3. What is the main feature of a second-degree AV block type I (Wenckebach)?
A. Progressive prolongation of the PR interval until a QRS complex is dropped
B. A fixed PR interval with dropped QRS complexes
C. Complete dissociation between P waves and QRS complexes
D. Regular rhythm with a normal PR interval
,Answer: A) Progressive prolongation of the PR interval until a QRS complex is dropped
Rationale: In Wenckebach (type I second-degree AV block), the PR interval progressively
lengthens with each successive beat until a QRS complex is dropped. It typically results in a
regular pattern of blocked beats.
4. Which of the following is the most common cause of a ventricular fibrillation (VF) arrest?
A. Acute myocardial infarction
B. Hypothermia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Drug overdose
Answer: A) Acute myocardial infarction
Rationale: Acute myocardial infarction is the most common cause of ventricular fibrillation,
particularly within the first few hours of the infarction, due to ischemic injury to the heart
muscle.
5. Which medication is commonly used to treat bradycardia caused by sinus node dysfunction?
A. Lidocaine
B. Atropine
C. Amiodarone
D. Adenosine
Answer: B) Atropine
Rationale: Atropine is an anticholinergic drug that can increase the heart rate by inhibiting the
vagus nerve's effects on the heart. It is often used in cases of symptomatic bradycardia,
particularly when caused by sinus node dysfunction.
6. Which of the following is a typical characteristic of atrial flutter on an ECG?
A. A P wave with a sawtooth pattern
B. Irregularly irregular rhythm
C. A prolonged PR interval
, D. Wide QRS complexes
Answer: A) A P wave with a sawtooth pattern
Rationale: Atrial flutter is characterized by a rapid, regular atrial rhythm with a distinctive
"sawtooth" pattern of flutter waves (P waves), typically occurring at a rate of 240–400 beats per
minute.
7. Which of the following is the treatment of choice for a stable patient with atrial flutter?
A. Synchronized cardioversion
B. Intravenous adenosine
C. Rate control with beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers
D. Defibrillation
Answer: C) Rate control with beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers
Rationale: Atrial flutter is often treated with rate control to reduce the ventricular response, and
medications such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers are typically used for this
purpose.
8. Which of the following medications can cause a prolonged QT interval and potentially lead to
Torsades de Pointes?
A. Lidocaine
B. Amiodarone
C. Erythromycin
D. Atropine
Answer: C) Erythromycin
Rationale: Erythromycin, an antibiotic, can prolong the QT interval and increase the risk of
developing Torsades de Pointes, particularly when used in conjunction with other QT-prolonging
drugs.
9. Which arrhythmia is most commonly associated with rapid, disorganized atrial electrical
activity and an irregular ventricular response?
A. Atrial fibrillation
bradycardia?
A. Synchronized cardioversion
B. Atropine
C. Amiodarone
D. Defibrillation
Answer: B) Atropine
Rationale: Sinus bradycardia can be treated with atropine, which increases heart rate by
inhibiting the vagus nerve's effects on the heart. If symptoms persist, further interventions like
pacing may be required.
2. Which of the following treatments is recommended for patients with symptomatic paroxysmal
supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT)?
A. Defibrillation
B. Carotid sinus massage
C. Atropine
D. Amiodarone
Answer: B) Carotid sinus massage
Rationale: Carotid sinus massage can help slow the heart rate in patients with PSVT by
stimulating the vagus nerve, which increases parasympathetic activity and slows conduction
through the AV node.
3. What is the main feature of a second-degree AV block type I (Wenckebach)?
A. Progressive prolongation of the PR interval until a QRS complex is dropped
B. A fixed PR interval with dropped QRS complexes
C. Complete dissociation between P waves and QRS complexes
D. Regular rhythm with a normal PR interval
,Answer: A) Progressive prolongation of the PR interval until a QRS complex is dropped
Rationale: In Wenckebach (type I second-degree AV block), the PR interval progressively
lengthens with each successive beat until a QRS complex is dropped. It typically results in a
regular pattern of blocked beats.
4. Which of the following is the most common cause of a ventricular fibrillation (VF) arrest?
A. Acute myocardial infarction
B. Hypothermia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Drug overdose
Answer: A) Acute myocardial infarction
Rationale: Acute myocardial infarction is the most common cause of ventricular fibrillation,
particularly within the first few hours of the infarction, due to ischemic injury to the heart
muscle.
5. Which medication is commonly used to treat bradycardia caused by sinus node dysfunction?
A. Lidocaine
B. Atropine
C. Amiodarone
D. Adenosine
Answer: B) Atropine
Rationale: Atropine is an anticholinergic drug that can increase the heart rate by inhibiting the
vagus nerve's effects on the heart. It is often used in cases of symptomatic bradycardia,
particularly when caused by sinus node dysfunction.
6. Which of the following is a typical characteristic of atrial flutter on an ECG?
A. A P wave with a sawtooth pattern
B. Irregularly irregular rhythm
C. A prolonged PR interval
, D. Wide QRS complexes
Answer: A) A P wave with a sawtooth pattern
Rationale: Atrial flutter is characterized by a rapid, regular atrial rhythm with a distinctive
"sawtooth" pattern of flutter waves (P waves), typically occurring at a rate of 240–400 beats per
minute.
7. Which of the following is the treatment of choice for a stable patient with atrial flutter?
A. Synchronized cardioversion
B. Intravenous adenosine
C. Rate control with beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers
D. Defibrillation
Answer: C) Rate control with beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers
Rationale: Atrial flutter is often treated with rate control to reduce the ventricular response, and
medications such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers are typically used for this
purpose.
8. Which of the following medications can cause a prolonged QT interval and potentially lead to
Torsades de Pointes?
A. Lidocaine
B. Amiodarone
C. Erythromycin
D. Atropine
Answer: C) Erythromycin
Rationale: Erythromycin, an antibiotic, can prolong the QT interval and increase the risk of
developing Torsades de Pointes, particularly when used in conjunction with other QT-prolonging
drugs.
9. Which arrhythmia is most commonly associated with rapid, disorganized atrial electrical
activity and an irregular ventricular response?
A. Atrial fibrillation